Rhian MacGillivray
Birch Literary
My Manuscript Wish List®
Before joining Birch Literary, I worked for more than a decade as a Spanish-English translator, editor and proofreader.
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I am currently OPEN to submissions. At this time, I’m looking for adult fiction that falls under the following genres (no YA or children’s, please):
Book club
I’m looking for books with emotional depth and human connections, or ones that will open up a new world to me. For example, I loved diving into video games in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, and ice skating in The Favourites by Layne Fargo. I also enjoy books that explore the relationships between siblings (like Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors), and those that explore motherhood and female friendship (like the incredible So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne).
Commercial
I’d love to find some commercial fiction with the humor and heart of the Vera Wong books by Jesse Q. Sutanto, or the interconnected characters with depth found in Liane Moriarty’s work.
Historical
Historical fiction is one of my first loves. I want to be immersed in another time and place through a sense of place and excellent characterization.
Two of my favorite books of all time are In Memoriam by Alice Winn and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I’ll also read anything by Kate Quinn or Kristin Hannah, and I loved Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu.
Romance
In romance, I want to see complexity: conflicts, great pacing, and characters with goals beyond the romance. I’d love to find a sports romance about a more niche sport.
I’m not a good fit for the fake dating trope as I’ve never been able to get into it. Spice is okay, but it shouldn’t feel gratuitous. No erotica please.
My favorite romance book would have to be Beach Read by Emily Henry.
Romantic fantasy
I generally prefer romantic fantasy over romantasy – basically, I want tight pacing in a plot that shines and where the romance is secondary. I really enjoyed Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley with its high-stakes trials, and strong female character.
Fantasy
I’d love to find a heist novel (think Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, but for adults rather than YA), or a clever fantasy akin to Babel by R.F. Kuang or The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown.
Not the best fit for steampunk, portal fantasy, or vampires.
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I am not a good fit for: sci-fi, horror, crime, thriller, suspense.
I do not represent non-fiction, memoirs, screenplays, novellas, or short story collections.
Fun facts about me:
I’m fluent in Spanish and also speak French (although it’s much rustier these days!).
I love music and will listen to almost anything, from Mozart and Pavarotti through to Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, AC/DC, and Iron Maiden.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions should be emailed to rhian@birchliterary.com
Please send a short query letter along with the first three chapters or 10,000 words of your manuscript, and a 1-2 page synopsis, all in the body of your email, to rh***@***********ry.com
Vital Info
I’d like the next…
– Anything that comps to books by authors like Gabrielle Zevin, Emily Henry, or Fredrik Backman.
– Book club fiction with incredible, interconnected characters – Liane Moriarty does this so well.
– A clever dissection of motherhood, like So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne.
– A hilarious romcom.
– A niche sports romance.
My favorites include…
Books: Beach Read | The Book Thief | Beartown | In Memoriam | These Is My Words | All The Light We Cannot See | Big Little Lies | Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow | So Thrilled For You
TV:Â Succession | Mad Men | Game of Thrones | Band of Brothers | Friends
Movies: Schindler’s List | Gladiator | Mamma Mia (I watch this at least once a year!) | She’s The Man
